ASF Study Materials for - BY GEORGE BRANT - www.asf.net 1.800.841.4273

ASF Study Materials for

                                      BY GEORGE BRANT

                   Study materials written by
                   Betsy Huggins
                   Director of Education and Community Engagement
                   bhuggins@asf.net
   www.asf.net
  1.800.841.4273   Delaney Burlingame
                   Education Coordinator
                   dburlingame@asf.net

Plot Synopsis
It’s 1942 and the Oberon Theater, known for its Shakespearean productions, has lost its
men to the war efforts. The company’s diva Celeste claims she is “an unwatered flower”
withering away without the laughter, tears, and applause of her audience. But Maggie, the
director’s wife, has other ideas. With her husband’s blessing, she sets out to move forward
with their originally planned production of The Henriad—a combination of Henry IV and
Henry V—with all the parts being played by the women of the company.
Initially skeptical, Celeste soon signs on—thrilled at the notion of taking on juicy new roles.
The board president, Ellsworth Snow, is harder to convince. He is concerned about the
audience—half of them are away at war and the ones who are left aren’t in the mood for
entertainment. He is concerned for the future of their theater—an untested director and
women pretending to be men will certainly tarnish the esteemed organization’s reputation
for years. Maggie counters that this play’s themes of patriotism, sacrifice and victory are just
what the audience needs. Ellsworth remains unconvinced—until his beloved wife—the timid
and inexperienced Winifred expresses an interest in being in the cast.
The auditions however, are sparsely attended with only two new cast members, June and
Grace, on board. With the assistance of Ida, who handles costumes, and stage manager
Stuart, Maggie begins rehearsals with the small and enthusiastic, though novice, cast. As
they make their way through rehearsals, they gain a few unexpected cast members but
lose—and eventually regain—their star over “artistic differences.” The women make their
way through rehearsals, incorporating clever tips to help their strides become more
masculine, and finding ways to make dear Winifred funny. All the while, they miss their
husbands and long for word from the front. Other injustices of the outside world—most
notably, blatant racism—also make their way into the lives of the cast.
The cast pushes forward—finding strength in each other and their common goal. Together
they find the courage to go boldly “into the breeches!”
Originally published by Trinity Repertory Company in their Into the Breeches study guide.

Character Descriptions

Maggie Dalton
woman in her mid-40's; the talented, if untested, Director finds her own values and
independence, plays The Chorus

Celeste Fielding
woman in her 50's; the diva, ringleader of the group – the glue that holds them all together,
plays Henry Fifth and Fourth.

Ellsworth Snow
man in his 60's; the conservative Board President of the Oberon Play House; prickly on the
outside, but a doting husband

Winifred Snow
woman in her 50's; unexperienced but enthusiastic socialite who finds her own wit and
humor, plays Falstaff

Stuart Lasker
man in his 40's; the quip-ready Stage Manager finally shows the world the best side of
himself, plays Mistress Quickly

Ida Green
woman in her 30's; the imaginative costume designer and the visionary for pushing the
show into a modern perspective in more ways than one, plays Hotspur

June Bennet
woman in her late teens/early 20's; the ingénue full of curiosity and optimism, plays the
Kates

Grace Richards
woman in her late 20's/early 30's; a raw talent who finds the power to lead, plays Henry
Fourth and Fifth

Setting

ASF’s production of Into the Breeches takes place in Montgomery, AL in 1942. During this
time, the United Stated was engaged in overseas efforts, sending men of combat-age to far
flung locations in Europe and the Pacific Islands. As men reported for duty, women were
required to work in spheres traditionally operated by men. Documentation from the time
shows women working in factories, playing baseball, and even taking the lead on stage as
you’ll see in our production.

Right in Montgomery, AL, the Maxwell Air Force Base served as an important training
ground for US aviators. If you listen closely throughout the show, you might hear the
characters mention some historic Montgomery locations, such as Peacock Track, the
Sylacauga Children's Theater, and the Prattville Progress.

Though set in the South at ASF, Into the Breeches tells a story of patriotism universal to
wartime America.

Talk of the Times: Vocabulary of the 1940’s

Tread the Boards
To appear on stage as an actor. This idiom uses boards in the sense of “a theatrical
stage,” a usage dating from the mid-1700s. It dates from the mid-1800s but was
preceded by the idiom tread the stage, first recorded in 1691.

Footlights
In theatre, a row of lights set at floor level at the front of a stage, used to provide
a part of the general illumination and to soften the heavy shadows produced by
overhead lighting.

Long in the tooth
Rather old. Originates from horse’s teeth; unlike humans’, horse’s teeth continue to
grow with age. They also wear down with use, but the changes in the characteristics
of the teeth over time make it possible to make a rough estimate of a horse’s age by
examining them.

Victory socks
As during World War I, the need for socks was paramount. Cold, wet, sore feet were the
enemy as surely as German or Japanese troops. The push was knitting for “The Boys,”
the men on active duty.

The Allies
The big four Allied powers of World War II were England (Great Britain, the United
Kingdom), the United States of America, the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R., Russia), and
France.

Victory Roll
A hairstyle that became popular in the 1940’s. Making such hairstyle means creating
large and voluminous curls either on top of your head or around the face. The rolls got
their name from an aerobatic maneuver used during World War II.

Originally published by Trinity Repertory Company in their Into the Breeches study guide.

Pre-Show Questions
   Much of Into the Breeches centers around forming community in times of crisis.
    What communities are important in your life? Your school, sports team,
    neighborhood?
   Into the Breeches takes place during WWII. What’s happening in the US and abroad
    during this time period?
Post-Show Questions
   When were moments in the show you saw characters making difficult decisions?
    Have you ever been asked to make a decision that goes against the beliefs of your
    community?
   You’ve been asked to think about different communities in your life. How do you form
    community? What values are important in your community?